Locomotive tender



Oct. 17, 1939. N. LQwER ET AL LOCOMOTIVE TENDER Filed D60. 16, 1937Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES tutti LOC'OMOTIVE TENDER Nathan M.Lower, Erie,

Pa., and Charles J. Surdy,

New York, N. Y., assignors to The Standard Stoker Company, Incorporated,a corporation of Delaware Application December 16, 1937', Serial No.180,094

'l Claims.

This invention relates Ato locomotive tenders of the type equipped withStoker conveying mechanism.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a drive meansfor the Stoker conveyor mechanism, which drive means is so related withthe tender and the Stoker conveyor mechanism that inspection, repair andlubrication of said drive means may be readily accomplished.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means forlubricating drive means of locomotive Stoker mechanism, which Stokermechanism includes a trough or casing member immersed in the water.

A still further object of thisv invention is to provide means fordraining the lubricant from the Stoker conveyor drive means, Suchdrainage means passing freely through an aperture in the Stoker troughor casing.

Other objects will become apparent upon reading the followingdescription of our invention in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in

which Fig. 1 is a medial vertical section taken longitudinally throughthe forward portion of a locomotive tender with the invention in Similarsection; n

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of the rear part of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view Similar to a portion of Fig. 2 illustrating amodification, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring first to Figs. l, 2, and 4, the tender .-f T is provided witha tank or cistern I3 which is mounted upon an underframe Il. Cistern I3includes a Water compartment I2 and a fuel bin I3 which is defined by abottom plate I4, the rear Slope plate I5 and side plates such as I6. Theplates I4, I5 and It separate the fuel and water compartments I3 and I2,respectively.

The conveying mechanism ofthe locomotive Stoker is indicated generallyat C and includes a trough conduit or casing I1 which is in opencommunication with the fuel bin I3 through an aperture IS in the bottomplate I4. Preferably, the Stoker trough Il is secured to the bottomplate I4 in water-tight fashion so that the trough may be immersed inthe water. `Shifta-ble plates I9 are mounted across the aperture landare adapted to regulate its effective size.

The trough conduit Il, which is approximately V-shaped in transversecross section, is provided with foot members 23 for supporting it fromthe w underframe II. A conveyor Screw 2I, rotatably liz (Cl. 10S-234)mounted in the trough conduit Il, urges fuel forwardly against a crusher22 whereby large lumps are reduced to a size more suitable foreconomical firing. The crusher 22 is secured to the inner side of frontwall 23 of the trough conduit Il. To the other side of the frontA Wall23 is secured a spherical shell 24, forming one element of a ball andSocket joint between the trough conduit I'I and a conduit leadingforwardly toward .the loco- I motive (not shown). The rearward portionof the trough conduit Il is provided with a Well 25, the bottom 2l ofwhich is spaced above` the tender frame I I.

lThe operating mechanismv for driving the conveyor screw ZI includes agear reduction unit 28 housed with a gear case 29. The gear case 23 isdisposed within the well 215 and is provided with a flange 33 inabutting relations with a flange or rim 3| formed interiorly of the well25. Studs 32 are Screwed into the flange 3| for receiving the flange ofthe gear case29. A cover 33 closes the open forward Sideof the gear case29 and is provided with suitable holes for engagement by studs 32. A nut34 is threaded over the outward end of each stud 32 whereby the cover 33is secured to the gear case 29 and the cover 33 vand gear case 29 areSecurely attached to the flange 3| of the well 25. Bolts 35 are alsopassed through the flange 30 of the gear case 29 and cover 33 so thatthe latter may be secured vto the former independently of the meanswhich Securesthe gear case 29 to the trough conduit well 25.

In approximateraxial alignment with the conveyor screw 2i is a shaft 36,journaled in the gear case 29 and cover 33, said Shaft 36 being providedWith a polygonal outward portion 31 in driving engagement with therearward end of the conveyor screw 2l. Interiorlyof the gear case 2 9,the shaft 35 has secured thereon a gear 38 which is driven by a suitablepinion gear (not shown). The well structure 25 extends forward of thegear case 2,9, forming an upward opening which is directed into theV-Shaped portion of the trough conduit ll. In order to prevent coalfromrpassing into the Well structure 25, a removable plate 39is placedover the opening 4t.

The gears and shafts within the case 29 are lubricated by a lubricantwhich is in Somewhat fluid state. A plug 4I is threaded into an openingin the top wall 42 of the gear case 29. Removal of the plug 4I isaccomplished from a position in the fuel bin I3 by removing the cap 43Which is secured to the top wall 44 of the well structure 25. Threadedinto the bottom wall 45 of the gear case 29 is a pipe 46 whichcommunicates with the interior of the gear case and eX- tends downwardlyto a point below the tender underframe II. 'I'he pipe 46 is provided atits lower end with a removable plug 41. An aperture 48 is formed in thebottom wall 2'I of the well structure 25 so that the pipe 46 may passfreely therethrough and through a sleeve 49 mounted between said bottomwall 2'I and the underframe II.

Since the bottom wall 2'I is lower than the remainder of the troughconduit Il, water which Y is often present in the fuel bin I3 will draininto the well structure 25 and pass downwardly through the sleeve 49.The flange or rim 3I is cut away at 5I) in order that free drainage ofwater may be attained.

In Fig. 3, the gear case 60 is constructed as an integral part of thetrough conduit 6Iv in order that the extent of the well structure 62 maybe reduced. The cover 63, in this instance, carries a lubricant drainpipe 64 which passes downwardly through the sleeve 65. This lubricantdrain pipe 64 is provided with a removable plug 66 at its lower end. Asin the preferred form, a lubricant filler plug 61 is provided in the topwall 68 of the gear case 60. A cap 69 may be utilized to cover the plug67. This cap 69 is secured to the bottom plate I4 of the fuel bin I3. Inall other respects, this form of the invention is similar to thepreferred form. The lubricant in the gear case may be drained byremoving a plug located below the underframe I I, and this will berecognized by those familiar with the art as a distinct improvement overpastpractise. The plug in the top wall of the gear case is utilized forreplenishing the supply of lubricant and also for introducing acleansing uid into such gear case.

The gear case 29 is removable through the aperture I8 when the shiftableplates I9 are in the position shown in Fig. l. It is necessary first tomove plate 39 forwardly and then uncouple the conveyor screw 2|,whereupon the gear case 29 and cover 33 may be removed by loosening nuts34. The pipe 46 may also be withdrawn through the sleeve 49 by properangling of the gear case 29. In the modification illustrated in Fig. 3,only the cover 63 is arranged for removal and it will be apparent thatthe lubricant drain pipe 64 may also be withdrawn together with thecover 63.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that a novel method oflubrication for the Stoker conveyor drive mechanism has been provided.The arrangement is especially adaptable for stoker conveyors which aredisposed within the Water compartment of a locomotive tender.

We claim:

1. In a locomotive tender having an underframe, a tank above saidunderframe including a fuel compartment and a water compartment, andpartition plates separating said fuel and water compartments including aplate forming the bottom of said fuel compartment, a stoker conveyorincluding a conduit disposed within the water compartment and having anopen mouth arranged to receive fuel from said fuel compartment, a fuelconveyor mounted in said conduit for urging fuelV forwardly, drivemechanism at the rear of said fuel conveyor operatively connectedthereto, said drive mechanism including a gear case and gearing therein,means providing access to said gear case from said fuel com partment forintroducing a lubricant into said gear case, and a 1ubricant drainextending from the bottom of said gear case, through said Watercompartment, and below said underframe, said gear case and drain beingremovable from its operative position through the open mouth of saidconduit into said fuel compartment,

2. In a locomotive tender having an underframe, a tank above saidunderframe including a fuel compartment and a water compartment, andpartition plates separating said fuel and water compartments including aplate forming the bottom of said fuel compartment, a Stoker conveyorincluding a conduit disposed within the water compartment and having anopen mouth arranged to receive fuel from said fuel compartment, a fuelconveyor mounted in said conduit for urging fuel forwardly, drivemechanism at the rear of said fuel conveyor operatively connectedthereto, said drive mechanism including a gear case and gearing therein,said gear case and the bottom of said fuel compartment having openingstherein providing access to said gear case from said fuel compartmentfor introducing a lubricant into said gear case, a lubricant drainextending from the bottom of said gear case, through said watercompartment, and below said underframe, and means for shielding saidlubricant drain from the water in said last named compartment, said gearcase and drain being removable from its operative position through theopen mouth of said conduit into said fuel compartment.

3. In a locomotive tender having an underframe, a tank above saidunderframe including a fuel compartment and a water compartment, andpartition plates separating said fuel and water compartments including aplate forming the bottom of said fuel compartment, a stoker conveyorincluding a conduit disposed within they water compartment and arrangedto receive fuel from said fuel compartment, a fuel conveyor mounted insaid conduit for urging fuel forwardly, drive mechanism at the rear ofsaid fuel conveyor operatively connected thereto, said drive mechanismincluding a gear case and gearing therein, said gear case and one ofsaid partition plates each having an opening pro-viding access from saidfuel compartment for introducing a lubricant into said gear case, alubricant drain extending from the bottom of said gear case, throughsaid water compartment, and below said underframe, and means forshielding said lubricant drain from the water in said last namedcompartment, said last named means forming a passage between saidconduit and said underframe.

4. In a locomotive tender having an underframe, a tank above saidunderframe including a fuel compartment and a water compartment, andpartition plates separating said fuel and water compartments including aplate forming the bottom of said fuel compartment, a Stoker conveyorincluding a conduit disposed within the water compartment having an openmouth communicating with said fuel compartment to receive fueltherefrom, a fuel conveyor mounted in said conduit for urging fuelforwardly, drive mechanism in said conduit at the rear of said fuelconveyor operatively connected thereto, said drive mechanism including agear case and gearing therein, means accessible from said fuelcornpartment for introducing a lubricant into said gear case, alubricant drain extending from the bottom of said gear case, throughsaid water compartment, and below said underframe, and means forshielding said lubricant drain from the water in said last namedcompartment, said gear case and drain being removable from its operativeposition through the open mouth of said conduit into said fuelcompartment.

5. In a locomotive tender having an underframe, a tank above saidunderframe including a fuel compartment and a water compartment, andpartition plates separating said fuel and water compartmentsA includinga plate forming the bottom of said fuel compartment, a stoker conveyorincluding a conduit disposed within the water compartment having an openmouth communicating with said fuel compartment to receive fueltherefrom, a fuel conveyor mounted in said conduit for urging fuelforwardly, drive mechanism in said conduit at the rear of said fuelconveyor operatively connected thereto, said drive mechanism including agear case and gearing therein, means accessible from said fuelcompartment for introducing a lubricant into said gear case, a lubricantdrain extending from the bottom of said gear case, through said watercornpartment, and below said underframe, and means for shielding saidlubricant drain from the water in said last named compartment, said lastnamed means forming a passage between said conduit and said underframe,said gear case and drainbeing removable from its operative positionthrough the open mouth of said conduit into said fuel compartment.

6. In a locomotive tender having an underframe, a tank above saidunderframe including a fuel compartment and a water compartment, astoker conveyor including a conduit arranged to receive fuel from saidfuel compartment, a fuel conveyor mounted in said conduit for urgingfuel forwardly, drive mechanism immediately at the rear of said fuelconveyor operatively connected thereto, said drive mechanism including agear case and gearing therein, means providing access to said gear casefrom said fuel compartment for introducing a lubricant into said gearcase, a lubricant drain extending from. the bottom of said gear casethrough said water compartment to a point below said underframe, andmeans for shielding said lubricant drain from the water in said watercompartment, said last named means forming a passage between saidconduit and said underframe.

7. In a locomotive tender having an underframe, a tank above saidunderframe including a fuel compartment and a water compartment, andpartitionplates separating said fuel and water compartments including aplate forming the bottom of said fuel compartment, a stoker conveyorincluding a conduit disposed within the water compartment having an openmouth communicating with said fuel compartment to receive fueltherefrom, a fuel conveyor mounted in said conduit for urging fuelforwardly, drive mechanism in said conduit at the rear of said fuelconveyor operatively connected thereto, said drive mechanism includinggearing and a cover for said gearing, means accessible from said fuelcompartment for introducing a lubricant to the gearing, a lubricantdrain extending from the bottom of said gearing, through said watercompartment, and below said underframe, and means for shielding saidlubricantI drain from the water in said last-named compartment, saidgearing, gear cover and drain being removable from its operativeposition through the open mouth of said conduit into said fuelcompartment.

CHARLES J. SURDY. NATHAN M. LOWER.

